Jennifer Murnane O'Connor (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I want to speak about insurance. My office has been made aware of a remarkable level of discrimination in the car insurance industry. Many of us have stories of our own or have heard stories about the rising cost of insurance. A sector that seems to be heavily affected is the taxi industry. This week, I heard about a taxi driver who had been driving as a named driver on his company fleet insurance. He had his test and wanted to get a policy in his own name. He was quoted €11,000 in respect of a vehicle that is valued at €12,000.That is insane.

We have an ageing population of taxi drivers which is causing more strain on supply. While the supply of taxi drivers has decreased, the demand for taxi services has increased. We often talk about carpooling and trying to encourage public transport, but in places such as Carlow where there is no bus service, taxis play a major part. However, the greatest challenge facing taxi drivers is the cost of insurance. Because of the massive rise in the cost of insurance, the number of taxis in Carlow has dropped by a quarter. I am sure the numbers are similar elsewhere in the country. Drivers looking for taxi insurance under their own name for the first time are getting prohibitive quotes of more than €10,000. It is not just the driver looking to go out on his own. Others who have been driving taxis for years are also finding it impossible to get a quote.

Taxis provide jobs, boost the local economy, encourage people to socialise and reduce the incidence of drink-driving. We need to help the industry. My office has been contacted by many taxi drivers who feel they are being unfairly treated just because they are taxi drivers. In some cases the drivers seeking a quote have no option but to go through the Insurance Ireland declined cases agreement. This means they must receive a quote if they have been refused. However, the quotes they are receiving do not make economic sense.

The taxi industry takes pride in ensuring their drivers have only the best safety record and impeccable driving skills to provide a safe and reliable service to the clients they service. Because the market is pricing them out of the industry, it is time for us to look at how we can support them. We have supported the tourism industry in the past with the reduced VAT rate and we are looking at supporting the construction industry with apprenticeships, which are crucial. However, we also need to support the taxi industry. I have made representations to the Minister and I will follow it up.